Toy balloon



Patented June 10, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR P. WITTEN, OFAKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE E. HALL AND HIMSELF, BOTH OF AKRON, OHIOTOY BALLOON Application filed March 14, 1929. Serial No. 346,835.

This invention relates to the art of manufacturing thin rubber articlesand, while adapted for use generally wherever it may be advantageouslyapplied, it is particularly intended for use in manufacturing ornamentalrubber balloons in which connection it will be herein illustrated anddescribed.

Objects of the invention are, to provide a new and improved economicalmethod of manufacturing an ornamental rubber article which may be easilyfollowed with the use of simple, inexpensive apparatus and which may beemployed to produce an article of unique, exceedingly attractiveappearance.

In the drawing I have illustrated simple instrumentalities for carryingmy improved process into effect it being understood that any suitableinstrumentalities may be employed and that changes and modifications maybe made or resort had to substitutions which come within the spirit ofthe invention as set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings like characters of reference are employed to designatelike parts as the same may appear in any of the several views and inwhich Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an ornamental rubber ballonconstructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective View of one of the devices employed incarryingout the invention.

Figure 3 is a vertical, sectional view illustrating one of the steps inmy improved process.

In carrying out my improved process, the rubber article is first formedand vulcanized. This article is preferably formed of a light color tocontrast with the darker colors used in ornamenting the same ashereinafter described. In Figure 1 I have illustrated a balloon whichwas formed by successively dipping a form in a white rubber solution. Aplurality of balloons are thus formed, vulcanized in the ordinary mannerand removed from the forms. The balloons are first thoroughly washed toremove any grease, glycerin, soapstone or other substance which mightprevent color from properly adhering thereto. The balloons are thenthoroughly dried and are packed haphazardly in a container 6. Thecontainer 6 is in the form of a narrow, rectangular box having sidewalls provided with a multiplicity of spaced openings 7.

The container 6 is open at the top and is provided on each end thereofwith a suitable handle 8 and 9. A lid or plunger 10 is then placed onthe balloons and is pressed downwardly to hold the balloons in packedrelation. The balloons as thus packed in the container 6 will be in afolded, wrinkled condition and will extend in all directions. Thecontainer 6 is then dipped in a tank 11 in which has been placed acolored solution 12. lVhile the solution 12 may be formed of anysuitable ingredients, I prefer to use an oil soluble dye dissolved innaphtha or other suitable solvent.

lVhile the container 6 is thus immersed in the colored solution 12, thesolution enters the container 6 through the openings or perforations 7and penetrates the packed mass of balloons. As the balloons are foldedinto all conceivable shapes and extend haphazardly in all directions,the colored solution 12 is deposited on each balloon in irregularsplotches. The container (3 is then removed from the solution 12 and theballoons are removed from the container 6 and are thoroughly dried.

While this forms a balloon of unique attractive appearance, the processis preferably continued by taking the balloons which have been subjectedto the solution 12 and again packing the same in packed relation withthe lid 10 and dipping the container in a second solution 12 of acontrasting color;

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then removing the balloons from the containers 6 and thoroughly dryingthe same. This second dipping will likewise deposit the second coloredsolution on the balloons in irregular splotches and as the contrastingsplotches will overlap, a very attractive mottled effect is produced.

In Figure 1 I have shown a balloon which was formed with a white bodyand which was first dipped in a colored solution as hereinbetoredescribed to form the splotches l3 and was then likewise dipped into acontrasting rubber solution to form the splotches 14:. Obviously, anysuitable colors may be used and rubber articles may be thus subjected toone, two or more dippings in accordance with the effect desired.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a simple, inexpensive processof manufacture which may be followed to produce a balloon of attractiveappearance.

Having thus illustrated my improved process what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. That method of ornamenting thinrubber articles which comprises, confining a plurality of the articleswithin an enclosed space and dipping the articleswhile so con- 7 finedin a colored solution.

2. That method of ornamenting thin rubber articles which compriseshaphazar'dly gathering a plurality of the articles, confining the samein an enclosed space, immersing the same while so confined in a coloredsolution.

3. That method of ornamenting thin rubber articles which comprisesconfining a plurality of the articles within an enclosed space, dippingthe articles while so confined in a colored solution, removing thearticles from the solution; releasing the articles from confinement andpermitting the same fined space and immersing the same while so confinedin a colored solution. I

6. That method of ornamenting thin rubber articles which comprises,closely confining the articles within an enclosed space dipping thearticles while so confined into a colored solution, removing thearticles from the solution, drying the articles, then again closelyconfining the articles in an enclosed space and dipping the same in asolution of the same while so confined to a colored solution, releasingthe articles from confinement,

drying the solution deposited thereon, again confining the articles inan enclosed space and subjecting the articles to a contrasting coloredsolution.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

, ARTHUR P. WITTEN.

